Here at Dental Image Therapy Centres, one of our top priorities is patient comfort. But making sure our patients have the best possible experience in our chairs goes beyond a warm smile and kind demeanor. It also means keeping up-to-date with new and exciting advances in dental technology.
Investing in a state-of-the-art integrated technology workflow has given us access to faster, easier and more comfortable tools to help make our patients’ visits a breeze, but unless you’re in the industry you've probably never stopped to consider what these tools are used for. That’s why we’ve decided to spotlight some of our coolest tech in a new series of Ask A Dentist blog posts.
First up is Primescan which lets us make quick and easy scans of your teeth. Primescan is the first of several digital tools that are all part of a larger technology workflow called the CEREC® Suite which we use to create dental restorations and appliances at chairside in as little as one visit.
We recently spoke with Dr. Patrick McManus, a dentist from our Winnipeg St. Vital location, about Primescan. Here’s what he had to say:
“Primescan is used for 3D scanning of a patient's teeth and associated soft tissue,” said Dr. McManus. “I use it to show a patient's teeth to them in an examination and to help make same-day crowns, bridges, nightguards and orthodontics.”
“Before we incorporated Primescan into our workflow the process was slower and not as accurate,” continues Dr. McManus. “We had to wait a week to get the prosthesis back and our patients had to get local anaesthetic again. Now, I’m able to save time for patients and myself by using the scanning tool and the rest our integrated tech workflow from the beginning of the treatment plan phase through to completion.”
Not only is Primescan faster and more accurate than traditional impressions, it’s also a lot more comfortable for patients. “No more physical impressions mean no more gagging,” Dr. McManus explains, “It is much easier to scan a patient’s teeth than it is to take traditional impressions that are often uncomfortable for them.”
Digital dentistry tools also have the added benefit of getting patients more involved in their own treatment, giving them the ability to see and understand what’s going on in their mouth more clearly than with traditional dentistry. “I’m able to show the patient their own teeth,” says Dr. McManus, “it helps to get them involved in the treatment planning phase.”
Integrating these technologies isn’t just beneficial to patients, our dentists appreciate them as well. “I really enjoy the work I do,” explains Dr. McManus, “I work with great people who help make a great environment – one where we are happy and welcoming to patients. Not only do I get to utilize the latest technologies to help my patients, but I also have fun while treating them.”
Primescan, along with the rest of our suite of chairside digital dentistry tools, are fully integrated into the Dental Image Therapy Centres workflow. You may even see them in action for yourself at your next appointment. Booking is easy, all you need to do is use the orange “Book Online” button here on our website.
Maybe it's time for your and your family's regular checkup and cleaning, you have a toothache or you need to get your treatment plan going - whatever the reason, we're here to help you get your confident smile. Whether you're a new patient or a returning friend, we can't wait to see you at your next appointment at either of our Winnipeg clinics!
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